A SpaceX upgraded Falcon 9 rocket undergoes launch preparations at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California September 27, 2013. Privately owned Space Exploration Technologies plans to test an upgraded Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday from a site in California as part of its push into the satellite launch market. Perched on top of the 22-story, beefed-up Falcon 9 will be Canada's Cassiope science satellite. Liftoff is targeted for 9 a.m. PDT (1600 GMT).
'This is essentially a development flight for the rocket,' company founder and chief executive Elon Musk told Reuters. REUTERS/Gene Blevins (UNITED STATES - Tags: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS) less